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BGM Resolutions Part 5: Regional Organizing - EDAs

Submitted by Dave Bagler on Fri, 06/25/2010 - 11:10

We've made it! Today's part five of five on Governance Resolutions. We're going to tackle Regional Organizing resolutions. There are many resolutions but a solid chunk simple codify our current standing procedures. Here's is a link to our current constitution.

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This is the other option for reforming the Revenue Sharing Agreement. This oven keeps the 1/3 structure providing 1/3 to EDAs, 1/3 to the Central Party and 1/3 to organizing. Of the last 1/3, 1/3 would go to EDAs to fund regional organizations and 2/3s would go to pay for regional organizers and training.

I think this is an excellent option for party building both in terms of growing current EDAs and creating new EDAs.

Resolution code	Resolution title and my thoughts on the resolution
G10-c14	Riding Association Annual General Meetings
G10-c14	See G10-c21.
G10-c15	Selection of Candidates for Parliament
G10-c15	See G10-c21.
G10-c16	Riding Association Constitution
G10-c16	See G10-c21.
G10-c17	Riding Association Contacts
G10-c17	See G10-c21.
G10-c18	Deregistered Riding Association Assets and Funds
G10-c18	See G10-c21.
G10-c19	Riding Association Constitution on File
G10-c19	See G10-c21.
G10-c20	Membership of Riding Association Officers
G10-c20	See G10-c21.
G10-c21	Riding Association Financial Records
G10-c21	These motions (G10-c14-21) codify standing rules already in place. They provide a standard for EDAs that protect the rights of GPC members. I'm all for them.
G10-c22	Revenue Sharing Compliance
G10-c22	This resolution ensures that to receive their portion of revenue sharing, EDAs must follow the rules set by both the GPC and Elections Canada. G10-c22 and G10-c23 can be thought of as the consequences of not following G10-c14-21. This is a great idea, we should not be funding rogue EDAs. In fact we should not be recognizing rogue EDAs. Which leads me to...
G10-c23	Deregistration of Riding Associations
G10-c23	This resolution ensures that to remain registered EDAs must follow the rules set by both the GPC and Elections Canada. This is, of course, a great idea. Some will argue that G10-c23 and G10-c23 are anti-grass roots but this really isn't the case. EDAs are not our grass roots, members are and in a grass roots party the rights of the EDA members should supersede the rights of the EDA. These rules ensure that the operations of our EDAs are democratic, they make our party more grass roots, not less. As someone who has dealt with an undemocratic EDA exec I can tell you rules like these are necessary.
G10-d01	Change in Revenue Sharing Agreement Distribution
G10-d01	G10-d01 and G10-d14 are our 2 choices for reforming the Revenue Sharing Agreement at the upcoming AGM. They are not compatible but they both seek to provide more funding to local organizing. This motion splits the money 50/50 EDA and central. This isn't a bad idea but it doesn't leave any money for regional or provincial organizing which may be required in areas that are under organized (i.e. don't have EDAs). This resolution does seek to foster growth at the local level in existing ridings but I think it limits our growth so I will not be supporting it.
G10-d05	Formation of a Council of EDA Representatives
G10-d05	This resolution directs the federal council to create a council of EDA representatives to provide input and review plans and other party documents. I'm going to vote no to this one. I'd rather see federal councilors (especially provincial representatives) taking the initiative to collect the input of those they have been elected to represent. Also the first whereas clause of this resolution paints this as way of involving the grass roots but its not. Again EDAs are not the grass roots, members are the grass roots. Giving EDA executives more control over the governance of the party simply gives EDA exec members a way of overruling the wishes of the membership.
G10-d09	Repayment of Loans to the Central Party
G10-d09	If an EDA is unable or unwilling to repay a loan it received from the central party the party can withhold revenue sharing payments until the debt is paid in full. This one just makes sense, I'm voting yes. In fact I would encourage EDAs to use their revenue sharing payments to repay debts to central party.
G10-d12	Recognition of Regional Associations as the Only Units Representing EDAs
G10-d12	The first whereas clause describes EDAs as the primary grassroots unit of the party, so you just know I'll have some issues. Again (I'm starting to sound like a broken record here) EDAs are not the primary grassroots unit of the party, members are. I like the idea of doing away with provincial divisions but I think we need away for regions to organize where there isn't enough support in any one single riding to create EDAs. This resolution limits our ability to organize regionally where there isn't already an EDA in place.
G10-d14	Improving the GPC Revenue Sharing Agreement
G10-d14	Revenue Sharing Agreement. This oven keeps the 1/3 structure providing 1/3 to EDAs, 1/3 to the Central Party and 1/3 to organizing. Of the last 1/3, 1/3 would go to EDAs to fund regional organizations and 2/3s would go to pay for regional organizers and training. I think this is an excellent option for party building both in terms of growing current EDAs and creating new EDAs.